30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 18 31-34 KNOWING THE THINGS THAT ARE SPOKEN OF HIM 04 We must see the cross as well as His kingdom
📖 Luke 18:31-34
19Oct2020 - *We must see the cross as well as His kingdom* - _Luke 18:31-34_ - KNOWING THE THINGS THAT ARE SPOKEN OF HIM 4 – Bible reading: _Matthew 26:38-40_
_Luke 18:31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished._
The Lord reprimanded the disciples that they were foolish and slow of heart for not believing all the things that were spoken by the prophets. To the disciples, the matter of the cross was taking place right before them. It was probably not possible for them to process what was happening, currently, and connect it to the prophesies that were spoken of the Messiah going to the cross.
They as well as the Jews in general seemed to shut out from their understanding that the Messiah would necessarily have to go to the cross, to reconcile man and all of creation back to God. It is only when man and all of creation are reconciled to God that man would be repositioned as the vice-regents of God to have dominion over all of God’s creation, in the image of God _(Genesis 1:26-28)_.
We, on the other hand, are more accountable for we have the privilege of processing all the prophesies of the Old and the New Testaments, both about the Messiah who is setting up His kingdom as well as the Messiah who went to the cross.
Yesterday, we began looking at Isaiah 53. We will continue to look at a few more phrases in Isaiah 53 and consider their application. _Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all._ Verse 6 - _We have turned everyone to his own way_ -
Do we see what is sin before God? Man seeking to go his own way is sin. Let us look at the entry of sin. _Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate._
When we see the entry of sin, we say it was disobedience but if we were to take an objective look at how it took place, we will see that they went through a process of rationalising that there was nothing wrong with either the fruit or the tree. So, they felt and reasoned that it was a good thing to do to eat the fruit and so they ate. Man chose to go his own way. Going our own way, however it good it may seem in our own understanding, is sin. Our life is a life of submission to the will of God. Are we prepared to live this life of surrender to God?
_Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand._ Verse 10 - _It pleased the Lord to bruise Him_
The Father bruised the Son. _II Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him._ Jesus was bruised for us. He was the only one, who was eligible to pay the cost of our sin, since there was no sin in Him. The entire sin of every single person, who has lived and will live in the world, from the beginning to the end of time, was burdened on Jesus.
It was because of what Jesus has done for us that we have the prospect to receive the righteousness of God by faith. There is no other way for us to be righteous before God. God has opened the way for us in Christ Jesus, by bruising Him.
_Isaiah 53:11 He shall see the labour of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities._ Verse 11 - _He shall see the labour of His soul_
_Luke 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Matthew 26:38-40 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." (39) He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (40) Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?_
Jesus agonised then and the disciples slept. Has it changed now, with us? We are still not one with Jesus in His agony for the sin and the consequences of the sin of man that we are reaping today. God’s heart is anguishing and breaking for the sadness in our world. Are we alert and are we one with Jesus for the pain of our world? We are, largely, still like the disciples, who slept.
Friends, I have taken a few phrases that were spoken in scripture and have sought to relate the same to our circumstances. God expects us to know the things that are spoken of Him and respond to Jesus accordingly.
*Thought to ponder*
```For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.```